Detroit sucks

[falcon556]

In my opinion the issue is not the quality or durability of the Detroit, rather, their warranty policy.
What I'd like to know is what happens to other lockers when a shaft breaks.
If breaking the shaft on an ARB or whatever takes out the locker then it is normal to loose the locker. If not, then it is a weakness of the Detroit and the warranty should cover it.
If loosing the locker is normal with shaft breakage, I'd like to know what other companies do in this case. If every other company covers it, Detroit should also because it is the expected industry behavior unless stated otherwise before you buy it.
If nobody covers it, tough luck.
I beleive that to judge Detroit we have to compare them with the rest of the industry.
Driving with a broken shaft is OK by itself, assuming that you know that there are no broken pieces floating around to make things worse.
Naturally, if there is no other choice, you do whatever it takes.

 

[Wil Badger]

it's not the driving on the shaft that breaks the locker .it's the sudden release of pressure on the one side that takes it out

 

[explorer]

I agree that the backlash when the shaft breaks "can" harm the locker. But in every auto locker I've installed, they specifically instruct you to NOT drive with a broken shaft. In any case, I believe you can get parts to repair the Detroit. If they don't repair or replace it, you may be able to repair it yourself for less money.

 

[Wil Badger]

nope already looked into it with what is broken it will cost almost as much for the repair kits .the issue i have right now is i don't want to split the case open then put it back toghter ,then have them tell me since i took it apart they will not warranty it.see you have to send them the locker so they can test it to get the warranty which takes up to 4 weeks

 

[explorer]

Bummer. I'm waiting for a shim kit that is backordered for the Super 44 Detroit I ordered right now. While my previous experience w/ them was great from the warranty standpoint, I wish they knew where I could get proper shims for this setup. Tractechs tech person had no clue what I was referring to.

 

[devilinside13]

well what a heated discusison we have here!
i agree with some points and disagree on others. first of the chrysler corparate 8.25 rear is not a full floater. it is a semi float and /or a c-clip design. second going by the pic that you had up there wil it looks like you have 33's or 35's on your rig am i correct?
if so then that is just a call for beaking an axle as the strength of that axle is just slightly more then a dana 35. so if you broke an axle yes i agree that you should not have drove on it but there are times that you have to drive with a broken axle shaft. but i would have at least opened the case and removed all of the pieces of old axle material that were left to prevent further damage. yes i agree with richard to that detriots are one of if not the best locker available but like everything else out there at one point in time it will break. yes tt should try to fix this problem with it breaking why would they do that when it will cost them a lot of cash do design a new and improved version when people will just buy a new one. i to have a detroit that i just installed in my xj and the rachetting and street manners are not that nice(auto trans) it does not both me for the fact that i know it is working. arb's are nice for the ability to open and lock the diff at a push of a button, but what about broken air lines? break one on the trial and then what? detroit has been around as long as i can remember and they are still going strong. i would be mad to but it is one of lifes idiotic things that corperations do. so just upgrade to a d44 or d60 and another detroit and go back to wheeling

 

[falcon556]

Bummer. I'm waiting for a shim kit that is backordered for the Super 44 Detroit I ordered right now. While my previous experience w/ them was great from the warranty standpoint, I wish they knew where I could get proper shims for this setup. Tractechs tech person had no clue what I was referring to.

I had to talk to the tech people at Tractech and I was not impressed by their knowledge to say the least. The company needs to train them better.

 

[Wil Badger]

it was as clean as a snapped axle can get.there were no broken parts in the housing.like i have stated my times i have wheeled along time and have snapped many an axle most of them being D60 shafts when i owned a 400 horse 460 powered bronco .i have delt with it before and i know how it goes.

yes they are 35's and yes i knew i was pushing my luck on that axle.they way it snapped and how i took care of it after it snapped i would have never suppected the locker went out.if they give me a new one or repair it great .i will not be putting out the money for a new one myself for this axle .i am currently looking for fullsize axles and have been since i got to utah 3 months ago because i knew i was pushing my luck . i knew it was a matter of time till i broke an axle just didn't think it would take out the locker when it did go.now i know and was just trying to warn others of what will happen if they are running a D35 or chrysler 8.25 and blow an axle.

i'm sorry if the name of the thread makes it seem like i hate TT or Detroits it's not the case .i was just a bit pissed when i made the post because i had just found out the locker had taken a dump

 

[DrMoab]

it was as clean as a snapped axle can get.there were no broken parts in the housing.like i have stated my times i have wheeled along time and have snapped many an axle most of them being D60 shafts when i owned a 400 horse 460 powered bronco .i have delt with it before and i know how it goes.

yes they are 35's and yes i knew i was pushing my luck on that axle.they way it snapped and how i took care of it after it snapped i would have never suppected the locker went out.if they give me a new one or repair it great .i will not be putting out the money for a new one myself for this axle .i am currently looking for fullsize axles and have been since i got to utah 3 months ago because i knew i was pushing my luck . i knew it was a matter of time till i broke an axle just didn't think it would take out the locker when it did go.now i know and was just trying to warn others of what will happen if they are running a D35 or chrysler 8.25 and blow an axle.

i'm sorry if the name of the thread makes it seem like i hate TT or Detroits it's not the case .i was just a bit pissed when i made the post because i had just found out the locker had taken a dump

So what will you put in your new axles? I know you told me a spool in the back but what about the front?

 

[Wil Badger]

it will most like be a Detroit or maybe even a True Trac.like i said i like their manners and how they work .when i go fullsize i would hope that my foot + 35's +light jeep = no broken axles.if i do break 3/4 ton axles with only 35's i'm doing something wrong

 

[XJoachim]

So go 1-ton and you don't have to worry any more. The thing is that TT clearly states in the operating instructions that if you break an axle shaft the detroit may be damaged too, i think they write that it will be damaged every time.

The same is if you snap an u-joint and the u-joint takes the shaft because of all the load placed on one cup instead of 2. Do you expect the shaft manufacturer to replace it?

You were running 35s and knew that this was way beyond the limits of the axle and therefore the limit of the locker. YOu broke an axle and the locker went like they stated. Repair the detroit, sell that axle and go for 1-ton running gear.

No reason to blame TT for something you did not read.

My .02

 

[CRASH]

Crash, i don't know you personnalyy and i don't know anything about your driving experience. I've driven a lot of winters with lockers in the rear without ever using 4 WD. There also were stick operated cars. I never had a problem with the locker in icy and snowy conditions. Maybe because i'm used to cars without the electronical goodies and i'm nearly as old as dust like eagle :laugh3:

I've never owned a vehicle with electronic goodies, so I'm not sure how they would help or hurt.....

I have owned several vehicles with a Detroit, and the issues are always similar in the snow and ice on off-camber sections of road. At slow speeds, you lose the ability of one wheel to act as a rudder while the other drives you forward. With the Detroit, both are driving and slipping, causing your rear axle to change lanes without your input.

You can't deny that this is how Detroit's operate, it's the way they are designed, and they are operating properly when they act this way.

CRASH

 

[Goatman]

I wonder how many axles have been broken by all those in this thread who are saying that you shouldn't drive on a broken axle? Tech is sooooo much better when people stick to what they know, and preferably experienced.

Why do wheelers prefer non c-clip axles? Because you can't drive on a broken c-clip axle to get you off the trail, or at least to a place where a repair can be performed. We prefer non c-clip and full floating axles so they can still be driven on if they break. Also, I've never seen any metal get into the diff from a broken axle.....the brake is usually outside of the carrier (only time it wouldn't be is if the tab broke off on a c-clip axle, which is very rare). In fact, if you're able to get the broken stub out of the side gear you don't even pull the cover (and hence drain the oil) before sliding the new axle shaft in.

Warrenty on parts that we use to modify our rigs is iffy at best. There's no way for the manufacturer to know how it is used. Are the tires way too big for the equipment? Was the thing hammered over and over at full throttle to get over something? Did the driver give it too much gas when wedged rather than back out? There's just no way to know. At minimum I thinks it's pretty safe to say that if a part fails due to breakage of a different part.....it won't be covered.

It's dissapointing with the Detroit, but that's the breaks......